New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-03
~~>s THE DRAMA-MUSIO.
LIwRENCE BARRETr AS RIENzL

On December 49, last year, Mr Barrett, at Aioausns
Theatre in Washington, effected revival OF Miss
MforIs tragedy of Rienz" and for the first time In
his life enacted the Last OF the Roman Tribunes ON
January TO- this year. he played this part in Brooklyn
and his embodiment OF Ii then discussed In tnis
column. For upward of four months Mr.. Barrett mas
been playing Reas and his imprisoned and mpetuous
presentment of this ideal patriot everywhere received
with favor has at length become established as perma
nent feature OF his repertory. Last night at Nblos
Garden, he acted this part for the first time In New
York. and the representation was welcomed with
enthusiasm by great multitude OF people. The play Is
that admits OF being trcate0 as spectacle, ana as
spectacle treated this occasion The scene Is
Rome in the fourteenth century The action begins amid
the picturesque ruins of an ancient and crmDhng tenn
pie and thereafter passes in palace halls In the CAPITOL
in Roman streets, and in the gloomy and gorgeous
spaees of great cathedral All the scenes magnif
cent The churchscene is obtained by the Justihable
expedient OF presenting action passage which, In
her play, the author has presented as descrpon-the
passage namely, in Act ~, showing Riensfs exaction
from the mobiles of oath Of allegiance to the State 1t
makes not only superb picture but thrilling and
impressive exposition of movement and herein it teaches
the old but always sautary lesson that the instinct OF
drama is far moro important TO the stage and TO the
needs of theatrical audience than any faculty or ex-
celence of literature. Another gorgeous blending OF
picture and movement accomplished with the scene Of
the interrupted banquet in which Rienzt exposes and
dScOmiitS the trcacnery or MS DOStlle lords
The plays of Miss Milford remarkable for the
literary than for the dramatic element They are full OF
ability, but, viewed exalted transcripts of 'e they
are unreal This Is sort of epitome synopsis OF
passage in Roman history Miss Milford faithful to
her Gbbon and her DE SADIE aud the work that she pro-
duced had the effect Of converting narrative OF ancient
facts into series Of luminous pictures, artificial da
logues and sonOrous harangues. The work had 10 be
adapted TO the stage before it could be acted The elder
Wallack-who, probably. never had his equal as the
animang spirit of theatrical picture-nade version
Of this play for his use and successful in 1t
during long period It is this version upon which Mr.
Barrett has built the present drama. The first ana
second acts merged into one. The third
act Is made to terminate with Rieh-fS pardon OF
Orsina deed exactly in contravention Of his nature
and totally opposed to the authors conception OF
him. but, in dramatic sense, more directly effective
than his cold nsstence upon the rigid ana neXOraDle
Of justice. The fourth act Is made dramatc ny
the introduction Of the cathedral scene, rs above ex-
planned The fifth act required but little alteration. IL
simply shows the final fate OF ruler who has become
un much 10 he derived from the tragedy a, mental
profit It chiefly TO teach that Rome IN the TOUR
teeuth century most unwhoesome place OF residence
for who desired to exemplify eubody and enforce
the idea of popular form OF government III IS Iul OF
pomp and display and of the hustle OF stormy career
but this is about all 1t signifies M, IL -
From the prospect of such character as Oheit0 or
Macbeh, or Cassints Rehard the observer carries
away the impression Of distinct, positive compact ana
cohcrent Identity The impression left by Resf is that
OF vagucncss At first he is enthusiast in the cause
of liberty aud il is understood that like Lucius Jt1S
Brut,s he has assumed certain hilarious frenzy as
a mask the nsurgcnt design of patriotic revolt But
when his is at length triumphant and he becomes
the puissant Tribune of the people seems TO De implied
that he becomes also tyrant No tyrdnncal aet OF ms
indeed Is either shown or mentioned Inc business hat
chiefly occupies him in the piece Is me business OF marty
ing his beautiful daughter 10 he YOUNG n1oi Id
whom she loves and by whom she Ia beloved. ms,
certainly is very harmless Yet IN some strange way tne
impression Is sought to be disseminated nat h-t hs
disappointed popular expectation HAIR OF the pay Is
devoted to building him mp and the other half TO Pulling
him down; and he himself makes many long anu eo-
quent speeches while these two operations are Ill prog
Mr. Barrett's embodiment of him Is touched with
kind OF insanity and apparently the Ideal that he ACTOR
native Intellect craZed by sudden aluence aud magnif
ccnce OF power Miss Mitfords Re-t might De described
as difnse orator and an unfortunate demagogue. 1iI.
Barretts Rio,-i may be DEFINED as VISIONARY Pao.;
maddened by his own success. The general presence OF
the actor In this assumption, Is essentially none oucn
An imperial type OF man as he exhibits IL seldom seen
upon the stage, and still more seldom seen IN
various cumulative and beautiful No actor Of our
time is good an orator. in the exact ana ecnInsn
spirit Is mpetuous TO the degree OF Inspiration upon LIS
auditors He sustans the character az seaay eens
fornauce perhaps was that moment of prophetic frenzy
When the enthusiast seemed TO dlate with the vision Of
impending grandeur for his daughter and ms house
oxataton which results FROM the fanatcisIn OF virtue
and which derives It's nourisnmssns from ,Hn ,ha
GSGn Of OF and Thinking
upon tho grand attitudes. the splendid demeaaor, Inc
with which Mr.. Barrett presented R.elisl'
even the coolest Judgment would incline to
rank this royal figure with the few most majestic shapes
that have graced the stage in time The strain upon
the actor must have been very great: he bore 1t with
superb spirit ,, IN. A,o, Mr.
Barretts acting received may be gathered from tne
fact that In the OF performance lasting Iee
honrs he was eight times called before the curtain
that every tableau in the piece was Two Two
or three times recalled; aud that AFTER
the scene of the interrupted banquet the curtain had 10 ne
i've times lifted before the applause Of the audience could
be controlled Nor were their plaudits maau'aco9ieu
great audience greatly moved The The ehu aSa
solemn magnncence, any picture OF this kind that ever
has boon set in the NewYork theatre: Mr. Barrett nu
the valuable aid OF Mr. Ben Rogers, Mr. & NJ. Conns
Miss Minna Gale and Miss Minnie Monk, In the ehiei
features OF the cast